An effort in f a c i l i t a t i o n

Jumu’ah Khutbah in UAE (2nd Muharram 1434)

The topic for Friday Sermon in the masajid of UAE is ‘The Hijrah to Madinah’.

“Praise be to Allah. He commanded His Messenger to migrate from Mecca to Medina and granted him empowerment. I bear witness there is no deity save Allah, having no partners, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, his companions, and all those who live like them till the Day of Resurrection.

As to what follows, I call upon myself first and all of you to be ever conscious and do construct our lives in accordance to what Allah, the Almighty, has ordered us as He says, “Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good.” (An-nahl: 128).

O Muslims,

Allah, the Most Exalted, sent His Messenger with guidance and religion of truth. The Prophet Muhammad pbuh answered the call and stayed in Mecca preaching Islam and reaching out to tribes and envoys. But he found little support and endorsement. Instead he was severly harmed, yet he remained patient untill Allah, the most High, awarded Him with Ansars (supporters) who embraced Islam before they went back to Medina. This was a fitting prelude to the Hijra (Migration) of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh.

Dear Servants of Allah,

Then Allah, may Glory be to Him, authorised His Messenger to start the journey to Medina, a call that his followers answered without hesitation. The Prophet pbuh remained a little while in Mecca waiting for the permission from His Lord to set off for the trip. Meanwhile Quraish tribes plotted against his departure. Their leaders agreed on selecting a young man from each clan to go after the Propehet pbuh and kill him. According to the plan, his blood will then be distributed amongst Quraish.

Allah, the most Exalted, says, “And [remember, O Muhammad], when those who disbelieved plotted against you to restrain you or kill you or evict you [from Makkah]. But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.” Al Anfal: 30).

As He promised, Allah saved his Apostle pbuh, who went out from Mecca before their enemies’ eyes, but their sight were momentarily taken away. He took a handful of dust and started pouring it on their heads, while reciting this verse: “And We have put before them a barrier and behind them a barrier and covered them, so they do not see.” (Yassin: 9).

Muhamamd pbuh went to Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, in his house and both of them walked out by night until they reached the Cave of Thawr and took refuge in it. In the meantime, Quraish had left no stone unturned to find him untill they reached the Cave gate and stood by there. Then Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, turned to the Prophet pbuh and said, “Allah’s Messenger, if one amongst them were to see at his feet he would have surely seen us. Thereupon he said: Abu Bakr, what can befall two who have Allah as the third One with them.

About this incident Allah, the Almighty, says, “If you do not aid the Prophet – Allah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, “Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.” And Allah sent down his tranquillity upon him and supported him with angels you did not see and made the word of those who disbelieved the lowest, while the word of Allah – that is the highest. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Attawba: 40).

Thus, Allah, the Most Exalted, saved them. The Prophet pbuh and Abu Bakr remained at the Cave for three days and nights, during which Asmaa, may Allah be pleased with her, used to bring them food and water wheras Abdullah Ibn Bakr report news to them. For their journey they hired Abdullah Ibn Urayqith to guide them.

O Believers,

The Prophet Migration was a decisive milestone in the history of Mulims, rather in the history of the whole humanity. It marked the beginning of a new epoch, a birth of a great nation. It was also an epitome of the most noble values and meaningful lessons that characterised the best of Creation: the Prophet pbuh, and his thorny struggle for the sake of guiding people to the right path.

As a reward of his endurance, our Prophet pbuh got the ultimate support from Allah, the Almighty, who led him to triumph and manifest the religion of truth. This was also a reward for his sincere confidence in Allah, an event that should serve us as a reminder to always strenghten our faith in our Creator, the Most Exalted, seek His help at every instant and obey Him as it pleases Him.

The Prophetic Migration is also a lesson for us in good planning and perseverance. It highlighted the role of the youth and women, who proved that they could contribute equally as their male counterparts in advocating rights and values and beneficially populating the society. This mission was given utmost care by our Prophet Muhammad pbuh who was keen to build a strongly united community, for he drew our attention to the necessity of nurturing harmony for body, mind and soul through sincere guidance and faith.

It is our duty, therefore, to explore further the Sunna of the Prophet pbuh and get invaluable lessons and sermons.

Dear Muslims,

Other benefits of the Migration is fostering a sense of harmony, altruism and unity as best shown in the good rapport between Muhajireen (migrants) and Ansar (supporters). They gave some of the finest examples of compassion and hamony leading to the establishment of a close-knit community characterised by the most beautiful moral quallities. In their description, Allah, the Most High, says, “For the poor emigrants who were expelled from their homes and their properties, seeking bounty from Allah and [His] approval and supporting Allah and His Messenger, [there is also a share]. Those are the truthful. And [also for] those who were settled in al-Madinah and [adopted] the faith before them. They love those who emigrated to them and find not any want in their breasts of what the emigrants were given but give [them] preference over themselves, even though they are in privation. And whoever is protected from the stinginess of his soul – it is those who will be the successful.” (Al Hashr: 8-9).
Indeed the migrants and supporters, may Allah be pleased with them, set a good example of altruism, charity, compassion and harmony. They were sincerely keen to maintain the bonds of society stronger, spread good manners and contribute to acts of goodness and piety. They kept away from immoral behaviours, alien thoughts and were not after personal gains or driven by twisted partisanship. They were clean and pure in heart and soul. Wih this wise attitude, they stood by the astute leadership and support cooperative efforts geared towards filling hearts and engineering the land the way it pleases Allah, the Most Exalted.

With this in mind, we pray to Allah to help us obey Him and those He has ordained upon us to obey pursuant to His instructions: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you.” (Annisaa: 59).

May Allah bless you and me with the ability to implement the Holy Quran and the Sunna of His Messenger Muhammad pbuh. I say my words and pray to Allah, the Almighty, to grant us forgiveness. Supplicate to Allah for forgiveness for He is the Most Forgiving and the Most Merciful.”